Cushion insert pad for a pair of riding shorts

ABSTRACT

A cushion pad insert to be attached to and carried by a conventional pair of riding shorts of the kind to be worn, for example, by one riding a bicycle. The cushion pad insert includes an intermediate gel layer that is sandwiched between top and bottom cover layers and sized so as to completely cover the bicycle seat whereby to reduce the impact forces generated by the seat against the rider&#39;s buttocks. A series of gel-containment compartments are formed in the intermediate gel layer of cushion pad insert. The gel-containment compartments are separated from one another by seals or similar flow barriers that prevent the migration of gel from one containment compartment to another. By virtue of the foregoing, the gel of the intermediate gel layer will be evenly distributed throughout the cushion pad insert while avoiding accumulation or bunching at one end thereof in order to eliminate the formation of voids in the gel layer and thereby maximize support for the rider&#39;s buttocks as he slides his body and shifts his weight along the bicycle seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a cushion insert pad to be attached to and carried by a conventional pair of riding shorts of the kind to be worn by one riding a bicycle, motorcycle, horse, and the like. The cushion insert pad has a force-absorbing gel layer that will be located between the bicycle seat and the wear's buttocks to reduce discomfort especially during long rides.

2. Background Art

Those who ride bicycles will often experience discomfort from having to sit on a bicycle seat, especially during long rides characterized by frequent turns and/or bumpy conditions. That is to say, the force generated by a hard bicycle seat can induce pain in a rider's buttocks which may cause the ride to be interrupted or shortened. To overcome this problem, it is known to attach a riding pad to a pair of riding shorts to absorb some of the forces generated by the bicycle seat.

By way of one example, a foam cushion pad has been carried by the riding shorts so as to lie against the rider's buttocks. Such a foam cushion pad has been found to be generally ineffective when the rider shifts his weight over the bicycle seat. In this case, the foam is not adapted to slide over the seat to compensate for the rider shifting his weight and changing his position on the seat. In another example, a continuous gel panel has been attached to the seat of the riding shorts. However, large amounts of the gel are sometimes forced to one end of the panel as the rider shifts his weight over the seat. The same gel migration is known to occur when the riding shorts are washed and dried. In either case, the gel will bunch or accumulate at one location which can result in voids being created through the panel between the rider's buttocks and the bicycle seat. Whether a conventional foam pad or a gel panel is attached to the riding shorts, the rider cannot be assured of a comfortable ride as a consequence of the impact of the bicycle seat against his buttocks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general terms, a pair of riding shorts are disclosed of the type to be worn, for example, by one riding a bicycle, or the like. A cushion insert pad is attached to the riding shorts so as to extend from the wearer's buttocks past his/her crotch and thereby completely cover the seat of the bicycle on which the rider will be seated. The cushion insert pad includes a (e.g., polyurethane) gel layer that is sandwiched between a thin top cover layer and a thin bottom cover layer. It is preferable that the top and bottom cover layers of the cushion pad insert be adapted to stretch as the rider wearing the riding shorts to which the cushion insert pad is attached shifts his weight over the bicycle seat. The cushion insert pad is preferably attached to the riding shorts by means of sewing or vacuum sealing so that the intermediate gel layer thereof will be fully enclosed between the top and bottom cover layers.

A plurality of (e.g., four) independent gel-containment compartments are formed in the intermediate gel layer through the top cover layer. The gel-containment compartments are separated from one another by seams or similar flow barriers to prevent the migration and accumulation of the gel at one end of the insert pad. By virtue of the foregoing, the gel will be evenly distributed throughout the cushion insert pad so as to eliminate the formation of voids in the intermediate gel layer and thereby maximize cushion support as the rider slides his body and shifts his weight along the bicycle seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a pair of conventional riding shorts to which is attached a cushion pad insert according to a preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the cushion pad insert of FIGS. 1 and 2 laid flat against the riding shorts; and

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing an intermediate layer of force-absorbing gel sandwiched between top and bottom cover layers of the insert pad.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Riding shorts 1 having a cushion insert pad 10 attached thereto according to a preferred embodiment of this invention are initially described while referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The riding shorts 1 have particular application for use by one riding a bicycle. However, it is to be understood that the combination riding shorts 1 and insert pad 10 may be used for other applications such as, for example, riding a tractor or a motorcycle. It is also to be understood that the cushion pad insert 10 herein disclosed can be used with longer riding pants such as, for example, those used for riding a horse.

The riding shorts 1, in and of themselves, are conventional riding wear and are of the type commonly worn by both competitive and recreational riders. The riding shorts 1 can be manufactured from a natural (e.g., cotton) material, a synthetic fabric material (e.g., that known commercially as Spandex) adapted to stretch with the wearer's body movements, or any other suitable cloth material that will be comfortable to wear while riding.

The riding shorts 1 to which the cushion insert pad 10 is to be attached is suitable for use by both male and female wearers. In order to reduce discomfort during a ride, the cushion insert pad 10 is located between the legs 3 and 5 of the riding shorts 1 so as to be positioned to lie upon and completely cover the seat of the bicycle. In particular, the insert pad 10 is ideally attached inside the riding shorts so as to extend from the wearer's buttocks past his/her crotch.

Details of the cushion pad insert 10 are now provided while referring concurrently to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, and as is best shown in FIG. 4, the insert pad 10 includes a gel layer 12 that is sandwiched between a thin top layer 14 and an identical thin bottom layer 15, each being manufactured from fabric. A layer of (e.g., polyurethane) gel is preferred so as to absorb impact forces and thereby maximize comfort, inasmuch as a gel will slide or spread over the bicycle seat as the wearer shifts his weight and body position along the seat in response to a change in riding conditions.

The thin top and bottom fabric layers 14 and 15 which cover the intermediate gel layer 12 of pad. insert 10 should be capable of stretching so as not to inhibit the sliding movement or flow of the gel layer 12 as the rider shifts his/her weight over the seat. By way of further example, the top and bottom cover layers 14 and 15 may be manufactured from a synthetic porous fabric material such as that known commercially as Lycra. The top cover layer 14 is bonded to the bottom cover layer 15 so that the intermediate gel layer 12 will be fully enclosed are retained therebetween.

More particularly, the cushion insert pad 10 is manufactured by first placing the bottom cover layer 15 in a suitably-shaped mold (not shown). A liquid gel is then poured onto the bottom cover layer 15 within the mold so as to be able to extend from the wearer's buttocks and past the crotch as previously described when the insert pad 10 is attached to the riding shorts. The top cover layer 14 is laid over the bottom cover layer 15 so as to enclose the liquid gel therebelow. At this point, the gel will leech into and fill the pores of the top and bottom cover layers 14 and 15. The passage of a few minutes is now permitted for the gel to set and dry at which time the cushion pad insert will be completed. Next, the cushion pad insert 10 is removed from the mold and attached to the existing riding shorts 1 by means of sewing, vacuum sealing, or the like in order to create a continuous bond for securing the opposing top and bottom cover layers 14 and 15 against the riding shorts 1 in surrounding engagement with the intermediate gel layer 12.

As is best shown in FIG. 3, the cushion insert pad 10 is sealed against the inside of the riding shorts 1 with the contour of a standard bicycle seat. Thus, when the riding shorts 1 are worn, the insert pad 10 thereof will lay upon and completely cover the bicycle seat to provide a cushion surface between the seat and the wearer's buttocks regardless of the wearer's body position. What is more, the intermediate gel layer 12 of cushion insert pad 10 may be divided into independent force-absorbing, gel-containment compartments. In the example of FIG. 3, the gel layer 12 is separated into a total of four force-absorbing, gel-containment compartments 16-1 . . . 16-4 to prevent communication of the gel therebetween.

The independent gel-containment compartments 16-1 . . . 16-4 are preferably created during the aforementioned sewing or vacuum sealing step. That is, a series of seams 18 are formed in the top cover layer 14 of insert pad 10 so as to extend through the intermediate gel layer (designated 12 in FIG. 4) lying under the top cover layer 14. The gel-containment compartments 16-1 . . . 16-4 advantageously create flow-inhibiting enclosures or barriers and thereby prevent the migration of gel between different compartments. Hence, the gel will be unable to accumulate at one end of the insert pad 10 by which to ensure that the gel will be evenly distributed therethrough, whereby to eliminate voids in the intermediate gel layer so as to provide reliable support of the wearer's buttocks as his/her body slides around the seat of the bicycle.

In the example of FIG. 3, a first gel-containment compartment 16-1 is located at the front of the insert pad 10, a second gel-containment compartment 16-2 is located in the middle of the insert pad 10, and a pair of gel-containment compartments 16-3 and 16-4 are located at the rear of insert pad 10. As earlier explained, the size and shape of the independent gel-containment compartments 16-1 . . . 16-4 are arranged side-by-side so that the shape of the cushion pad insert 10 will correspond with the bicycle seat upon which the insert pad 10 will lay when the riding shorts (designated 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2) are worn.

Accordingly, the cushion insert pad 10 of this invention reduces the discomfort usually associated with having to sit on a hard bicycle seat during long bicycle rides. The gel within the intermediate layer 12 of insert pad 10 will slide as the rider shifts his weight around the bicycle seat so as to better absorb the force of the seat against the rider's buttocks. However, the confinement of the force-absorbing gel to a plurality of independent gel-containment compartments 16-1 . . . 16-4 avoids gel accumulation or bunching and the possibility of an uneven distribution of the gel throughout the insert pad. 

1. For a pair of riding pants, a cushion insert pad to be attached to the riding pants to reduce the impact forces applied to the buttocks of a rider wearing said riding pants while riding, said cushion insert pad comprising a top cover layer, a bottom cover layer, and an intermediate layer containing a gel and being located between said top and bottom cover layers so as to be surrounded thereby.
 2. The cushion insert pad recited in claim 1, said cushion insert pad having the shape of a bicycle seat so that said intermediate layer is adapted to completely cover the bicycle seat when the rider is seated thereon.
 3. The cushion insert pad recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said top and bottom cover layers is manufactured from a fabric material that is adapted to stretch with the body movements of the rider.
 4. The cushion insert pad recited in claim 1, wherein said intermediate layer is divided into a plurality of gel-containment compartments, each of said compartments containing at least some of said gel, said plurality of gel-containment compartments being separated from one another to prevent the migration and bunching of the gel at any one location of said intermediate layer.
 5. The cushion insert pad recited in claim 4, wherein each one of said plurality of gel-containment compartments is separated from other ones of said gel-containment compartments by means of a seal, said seal creating a barrier to prevent the movement of gel from one containment compartment to another.
 6. The cushion insert pad recited in claim 4, wherein said plurality of gel-containment compartments are sized and arranged adjacent one another such that said intermediate layer has the shape of a bicycle seat.
 7. The combination of a pair of riding pants and a cushion insert pad carried by the riding pants to reduce the impact forces applied to the buttocks of a rider wearing said riding pants while riding, said cushion insert pad comprising a cushion layer containing a cushion material attached to said riding pants, said cushion layer being divided into a series of independent cushion material containment compartments, each of said containment compartments having at least some of the cushion material and being separated from one another to prevent the movement of said cushion material from one containment compartment to another.
 8. The combination recited in claim 7, wherein said cushion material is a gel, some of said gel being confined to each of said plurality of cushion material containment compartments, said combination further comprising a cover layer affixed to said pair of riding pants with said cushion layer containing said gel located between said cover layer and said riding pants.
 9. The combination recited in claim 7, wherein said cushion insert pad is attached to said riding pants by means of a vacuum seal.
 10. The combination recited in claim 7, wherein said cushion insert pad is attached to said riding pants by means of sewing.
 11. A method for making a cushion insert pad to be attached to clothing to reduce impact forces applied to the body of one wearing the clothing to which the cushion insert pad is attached, said method comprising the steps of: laying a bottom cover layer of porous material into a mold; pouring a liquid gel onto said bottom cover layer laying in the mold; attaching a top cover layer of porous material to said bottom cover layer with said liquid gel sandwiched therebetween at a time during which the liquid gel leeches into each of said top and bottom cover layers; and dividing the liquid gel into a plurality of independent gel containment compartments such that each containment compartment has at least some of said liquid gel therewithin, said plurality of gel containment compartments being separated from one another to prevent the movement of liquid gel from one containment compartment to another.
 12. The method for making a cushion insert pad recited in claim 11, including the additional step of forming said mold to have the shape of a bicycle seat so that said cuhion pad insert also has the shape of a bicycle seat. 